Although I’ve been rather quiet about it, I’m participating in the Knit Sock Kit Swap (KSKS). I had to be sort of sneaky about the whole thing because my swap target was Mrs Pao and I didn’t want her to figure that out. But now that she’s received her swap package, I can talk about it – especially since it was such a Project Spectrum kit! 🙂
I asked Scout to dye a special skein of yarn for Mrs Pao, incorporating her favorite colors of black and purple (yes, yes, I know, those are my favorite colors, too, but I was ever so good and didn’t keep the lovely skein of yarn). The absolutely perfect Stormy Chaos colorway reminds me of Lorna’s Laces Black Purl and Koigu #305.
The bag was knitted from black Tahki Capri, a sadly discontinued Egyptian cotton tape yarn, using the Two Old Bags’ Pamela bag pattern. I can’t sew worth anything, but I dug out some swirly purple silk jersey and sewed a bag lining by hand. I have my very own Pamela bag from the same yarn (although not lined… yet) and think it’s perfect for carrying around a sock, since the bag handle loops so handily around the wrist. As soon as Mrs Pao’s router is playing nice again, I’m sure she’ll share details of what else was in the kit!
Last night I met another local knitter, blogless Kathryn K, at Bar Abilene for chips, salsa, margaritas, conversation, and, of course, knitting. We had a lot of fun and I bound off the first purple Trekking sock! One down, one to go…
And yet another SRP update…
The Art of Detection by Laurie R. King, 358 pages. The first Kate Martinelli mystery in a long time! This book sort of bridges King’s two mystery series, the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series and the Kate Martinelli series, as much as can be done when they take place many decades apart.
Wicked Fix by Sarah Graves, 290 pages. This is the first “Home Repair Is Homicide” mystery that I’ve read, but I enjoyed it and will be reading more. The series is set in Eastport, Maine, and features former Wall Streeter Jacobia Tiptree.
If you’re ever curious about the order of books in a mystery series, curious about mysteries set in a certain location, can remember the character but not the author, or want to find new books to read based on authors you like, check out Stop, You’re Killing Me! It’s easily the best resource an avid mystery reader can have (besides a public library…).
Chaos is enjoying the sun and the air conditioning…
What a thoughtful pal you are! Lovely yarn and nice job on the bag. Mrs. Pao is one blessed KSKS-er.
Your KSKS bag looks great, Chris! Mrs. Pao was a lucky recipient no doubt!
What? You went to our place? 🙂 Just kidding! I am jealous though, because I’ve been craving that yummy Sangrita and the chips and salsa – Tejas just didn’t match up.
Thanks for posting that link! I’m always trying to do searches on Amazon and authors websites’ to find out what order a series is in when I discover a new one and this is a FANTASTIC resource. I used to have the “Detecting Women” book, which was great for that, but somehow I lost it.
Chris- Lucky Mrs.Pao- dontcha just love her blog- she’s really got a great sense of humour- almost as great as yours.
I’m thinking that these Kitties are wishing the “dog” days of summer were behind us, and I have to agree with them.
nice job on the bag ~ I’m sure she loved it!
Oh, my but that’s some yummy yarn!
Chaos is evil, do you know that? Just look at that sun-warmed belly, just waiting to be snoogled!!
Hey, why didn’t you do it yourself? You can dye just as well!
Lovely gift.
I just love that Stormy Chaos – it’s so you, and apparantly lots of other people too!!
Too funny how you’re giving a kit to someone you know… Challenging! But you did great, methinks.
mrspao loves the package, I would be enjoying the chocolate were I allowed anywhere near it.
The cats (well Ophelia and Perdita) have been going nuts over the purple thing.
Our router is going to be swapped for a real PC with a firewall I can monitor in the next few days.
Paul
The yarn Scout dyed is beautiful! You didn’t order a skein for yourself, too? Silly girl!
What a cute little kit! You have a very lucky swap pal.
I too had Scout dye the yarn. The KSKS was a fun swap. How fun for your pal!
The yarn is beautiful, and I love the bag. Thanks for the link to “Stop, You’re Killing Me”, I’ve already started checking it out. Chaos looks so good in that picture.
I love that picture of Chaos!
Great package! Chaos is so dang cute!
Ah! All is revealed!
Mrs. Pao’s a lucky girl. And she deserves it, too, with the way she’s been pushing herself lately.
The Vampire and I loved this pic of Chaos… and the subtitle, too. The Cat just wants a share of his AC. 🙂
You came up with a great bag! It looks great and the yarn color is wonderful!
Thanks for the mystery book link. I just discovered that there are three Laurie King ‘Mary Russell’ books that I haven’t read. I’ll be off to the library this weekend.
Oh, great bag, and delicious yarn! What a great pal you are, to restrain yourself from using the yarn yourself. LOL!
I’ve never heard of the Jacobia Tiptree books. (Love that name, Jacobia.) I’m going to look them up right now.
Oh, that yarn is loverly!!!!!!!!!!
So is Chaos, as always.
Awww – That’s my all time fav pic of Chaos.
Great bag, great yarn, great Chaos pic. 🙂
Great job on the yarn selection and the bag! I love that picture of Chaos. 🙂
Nice yarn:) The bag is nice as well. And, well, that pict of Chaos is just too cute!
Aw!! I love the yarn! It’s so cool that you guys have the same favorite colors!!
*squeak* Ooooh, warm fuzzy Chaos belly!!!
How perfect that you were assigned Mrs. Pao!? I love the bag!
Wow lucky Mrspao!
Your dyeing came up well 🙂 Hot pink and black – very retro!
Yummy yarn!
Chaos looks totally happy. He is seriously adorable! Kally is always looking at the world upside down.
I love it when kitties look at the world upside down — I always wonder what’s going through their minds! And thanks for the link — I always say that if somebody doesn’t die in the first chapter, I’m not interested! 😉
About the only kind of thing I don’t read is mysteries. But I’m enjoying a very different type of novel right now, called “Blindness.” I highly recommend it.
Wow, the yarn is beautiful! And what a cute bag you made for Mrs. Pao.
Beautiful yarn and bag! Chaos looks like a whole different cat with the sun on his belly 😉
You are the best KSKS swap pal ever! I love everything! The colours and size and perfect 🙂
gorgeous purple yarn! Lucky Mrs. Pao.
Your kit is great – I love the bag! Black is one of my favorites too! I’m working on yours right now — the bag is taking a long time! It’s coming soon, though!